Citizens’ group protests flights of U.S. military aircraft in western Hiroshima
Mar. 30, 2016
by Tsuyoshi Osabe and Kanako Noda, Staff Writers
The MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft, capable of performing vertical takeoffs and landings, have been spotted continuously in the Hiroshima area, including the cities of Hatsukaichi and Hiroshima. It is believed that the U.S. Marine Corps aircraft have been performing repeated takeoffs and landings at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, located in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, for joint U.S. and South Korean military exercises. The City of Iwakuni has confirmed, as of March 29, that the aircraft have been parked for a record 20 consecutive days. On March 29, a citizens’ group in the city of Hatsukaichi sent a letter of appeal to the municipal government, urging the city to lodge a protest with the U.S. base for flying the aircraft over Miyajima Island, a World Heritage site, and urban districts.
The citizens’ group that sent the letter is comprised of residents in the western part of Hiroshima Prefecture who oppose the expansion and enhancement of the Iwakuni base. In the urgent letter of appeal addressed to Hatsukaichi Mayor Katsuhiro Shinno, the group called “the current situation an abnormal state of affairs, as up to eight Osprey are parked at the Iwakuni base,” and stressed its concern that drills centering on the base may become constant. Midori Kikuma, the co-head of the group, said after submitting the letter, “Joining hands with local governments and citizens of other areas, we will urge that the flights be canceled and we will continue to monitor their activity.”
Over 40 sightings of the aircraft have been reported to the group this month by residents of such cities as Hatsukaichi and Hiroshima, and the town of Kitahiroshima. The International Division of Hiroshima Prefecture received 66 reports in connection with takeoffs and landings of Osprey from the Chugoku Shikoku Defense Bureau from March 2 to 22. An official at the Base Policy Division of Iwakuni said that the recent consecutive parking period ran 20 days from March 2 to March 21. The previous record was eight days in December 2014.
Keisuke Kume, a resident of Iwakuni and an adviser to a group called the “Residents’ Network for Preserving the Quiet Environment of the Seto Inland Sea,” is familiar with issues involving the U.S. base. He said, “The current situation is a prelude to the fact that the Iwakuni Base is becoming a focal point of mainland Japan for U.S. forces. The possibility of deploying the state-of-the-art Stealth Fighter F35 has been raised and it is likely that the number of flight drills over the Chugoku Mountain Range will increase in the future.”
(Originally published on March 30, 2016)
The MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft, capable of performing vertical takeoffs and landings, have been spotted continuously in the Hiroshima area, including the cities of Hatsukaichi and Hiroshima. It is believed that the U.S. Marine Corps aircraft have been performing repeated takeoffs and landings at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, located in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, for joint U.S. and South Korean military exercises. The City of Iwakuni has confirmed, as of March 29, that the aircraft have been parked for a record 20 consecutive days. On March 29, a citizens’ group in the city of Hatsukaichi sent a letter of appeal to the municipal government, urging the city to lodge a protest with the U.S. base for flying the aircraft over Miyajima Island, a World Heritage site, and urban districts.
The citizens’ group that sent the letter is comprised of residents in the western part of Hiroshima Prefecture who oppose the expansion and enhancement of the Iwakuni base. In the urgent letter of appeal addressed to Hatsukaichi Mayor Katsuhiro Shinno, the group called “the current situation an abnormal state of affairs, as up to eight Osprey are parked at the Iwakuni base,” and stressed its concern that drills centering on the base may become constant. Midori Kikuma, the co-head of the group, said after submitting the letter, “Joining hands with local governments and citizens of other areas, we will urge that the flights be canceled and we will continue to monitor their activity.”
Over 40 sightings of the aircraft have been reported to the group this month by residents of such cities as Hatsukaichi and Hiroshima, and the town of Kitahiroshima. The International Division of Hiroshima Prefecture received 66 reports in connection with takeoffs and landings of Osprey from the Chugoku Shikoku Defense Bureau from March 2 to 22. An official at the Base Policy Division of Iwakuni said that the recent consecutive parking period ran 20 days from March 2 to March 21. The previous record was eight days in December 2014.
Keisuke Kume, a resident of Iwakuni and an adviser to a group called the “Residents’ Network for Preserving the Quiet Environment of the Seto Inland Sea,” is familiar with issues involving the U.S. base. He said, “The current situation is a prelude to the fact that the Iwakuni Base is becoming a focal point of mainland Japan for U.S. forces. The possibility of deploying the state-of-the-art Stealth Fighter F35 has been raised and it is likely that the number of flight drills over the Chugoku Mountain Range will increase in the future.”
(Originally published on March 30, 2016)
